Looking for the Most-Loved Beer Label 2012

With more than 2,000 breweries in operation according to the Brewers Association, consumers have never had such easy access to such diverse styles of beer. The only thing rivaling the creativity inside the bottle is the creativity on the outside.

The National Beer Wholesalers Association estimates that there are more than 13,000 different labels of beer. CNBC's Consumer Nation is setting out to find the most creative and interesting labels with the goal of having you, the beer consumer, choose the label you love best. There is no prize for the winner, just bragging rights.

Official rules and procedures are below, but here’s the quick details on how it works:

Starting today through Oct. 19, breweries and consumers can submit a jpg (hi-res please) or link to a label or can for consideration to BoozeNews@nbcuni.com To be considered for the vote a label must be from a beer released between Oct. 1, 2011, to Oct. 31, 2012.

The CNBC Consumer Nation selection committee will review all submissions and slot the field in a “March Madness” style bracket consisting of four groups of sixteen labels.

The field will be announced on Monday, Oct. 29 and voting will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and last through Thursday, Nov. 15. The winner will be announced on Friday, Nov. 16.

-By Tom Rotunno, CNBC Senior Editor

UPDATE: We are looking for one submission per brewery. So while a brewery may have many worthy labels, please submit the one you like the best.

These Voting Rules and Procedures are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of CNBC LLC (“CNBC”). Void where prohibited.

Voting is simple and easy. To vote, access the Consumer Nation blog on www.cnbc.com and follow the instructions provided to submit your Vote. Just click on the box next to your selection to submit your vote process (“Vote”). Voting will take place starting October 30, 2012 and will end on November 16, 2012. All Voting will be done though the Consumer Nation blog on www.CNBC.com (“Website”) and will occur over a series of six (6) rounds. Round 1 will consist of four (4) groups, each with sixteen (16) labels split into pairs. Voting will occur for approximately twenty-four (24) hours. The label with the most Votes from each pair will advance to Round 2. Round 2 will then consist of four (4) groups, each with the eight (8) labels that advanced from Round 1. The eight (8) labels will be split into pairs again for voting. Voting will occur for approximately twenty-four (24) hours. The label with the most votes from each pair will advance into Round 3. Round 3 will then consist of four (4) groups, each with four (4) labels that advanced from Round 2 split into pairs. Voting will occur for approximately twenty-four (24) hours. The label with the most votes from each pair will advance into Round 4. Round 4 will then consist of four (4) groups, each with the two (2) labels that advanced from Round 3. Voting will occur for approximately twenty-four (24) hours. The label with the most votes from each pair will advance into Round 5. Round 5 will then consist of two (2) groups, each with the two (2) labels that advanced from Round 4, Voting will occur over a seventy-two (72) hour period. Round 6 will consist of the two (2) labels that advanced from Round 5. Voting will occur over approximately a seventy-two (72) hour period. The label with the most votes at the conclusion of Round 6 will be named the “Most Loved Label” of 2012. Voting will be conducted pursuant to these Voting Rules and Procedures and any such other rules and procedures as CNBC may from time to time designate.

Eligibility: You must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older to participate and submit your vote. You must be a permanent legal resident of the United States or the District of Columbia.

Voting Period and Restrictions: Voting is open from the time the applicable voting period (each a “Voting Period”) is announced on the Website until the deadline announced on the Website. Voting is currently limited to one (1) vote per person during each round of the Voting Period, but CNBC reserves the right to change the limit on the number of Votes, in its sole discretion. Notification regarding any such change will be announced on the Website.

How to Vote Online: Access the Consumer Nation blog on www.cnbc.com and view the Voting choices available during the applicable Voting Period. You may submit your Vote during the Voting Period by clicking on the box next to your selection. A dot will appear in the box confirming your selection.

General Conditions: CNBC has the right, in its sole discretion, to void any Vote that appears, to have been made by a person not meeting the eligibility requirements set forth above, or to be an automated or duplicate Vote, and has the right to permanently disqualify from any Voting any person it believes has violated these Voting Rules and Procedures. If for any reason the Voting is not capable of being run or implemented as planned, including, but not limited to, as the result of infection by computer viruses or bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or any other cause beyond the control of CNBC, which is likely to, or actually corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Voting, then CNBC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to withdraw the transmission of any Vote and/or to terminate or suspend the Voting at any point and declare the Voting results based upon the Votes up to that point. In the event of technical difficulties with the Voting, including, but not limited to, mobile or Internet service interruptions, CNBC reserves the right to review the Votes for accuracy and to take any appropriate action, including, without limitation, voiding the Votes cast during the time period in which such technical difficulties occurred. CNBC, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, any other entity involved in the development or administration of the Voting, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and assigns (collectively the “Released Parties”) are not responsible for any computer, network, technical, electronic, human or other errors or problems of any kind, for any injury or damage to participants or to any person’s computer or mobile phone relating to or resulting from Voting or downloading materials or software in connection with the Voting, or for Votes that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, or late. By participating, each individual agrees to release and hold the Released Parties harmless against any and all claims and liability of any kind arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, out of their participation in the Voting.

Caution: Any attempt by you or any other individual to deliberately damage any online service, mobile phone service, or website, tamper with the Voting process, or otherwise undermine the legitimate operation of the Voting is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Released Parties reserves the right to seek damages and/or other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Disputes: THESE RULES, AND SUBMISSION OF YOUR VOTE, ARE GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE FORUM AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. IF THE CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE RESOLVED THROUGH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS OR MEDIATION, IT SHALL THEN BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS THEREOF (“JAMS RULES”). THE JAMS RULES FOR SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE EXPERIENCED AND LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NEW YORK. ALL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.